An extremely rare poster for the Second World Congress of the Partisans of Peace (WCPP), featuring the Dove of Peace designed specifically for the event by Pablo Picasso, 1950. Picasso had previously created a dove symbol for the First World Peace Congress held in Paris the previous year, and later produced several variations for subsequent Peace Congresses around the world.

The Sheffield Conference, which this poster promotes, was beset with controversy when the British government refused visas to significant attendees on political grounds. Picasso, however, did speak at the event although his experience led him to vow never to visit the UK again.

We have only seen one other version of this poster before, published by Picasso’s printer Mourlot (Paris). This previously unrecorded example, however, was printed by the left-leaning London Caledonian Press Ltd for distribution in the UK and appears to be one of the rarest Picasso posters to have come on the market in recent years. A higher resolution image file is available for viewing on request.